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In recent developments, Hunter College has taken decisive action by placing a professor on leave following a wave of criticism over her controversial remarks regarding black students. The incident, which ignited public outrage, involved a hot mic moment during a virtual meeting.
The controversy centers around Allyson Friedman, an associate professor of biology at Hunter College. During a public meeting of the Community Education Council on February 10, Friedman inadvertently interrupted a black eighth-grade student who was voicing her concerns about the possible closure of her Upper West Side public school.
Hunter College President Nancy Cantor addressed the situation in a statement released on Wednesday. “I am writing to provide an update on the measures Hunter College is implementing following the incident at a New York City School District 3 Community Education Council meeting, where offensive comments were overheard from a district parent who is also employed by Hunter,” Cantor stated.
She further explained, “As previously mentioned, we are conducting a thorough investigation into this matter in line with the university’s conduct and nondiscrimination policies.”
The statement concluded with the announcement that, “Pending the conclusion of our investigation, the employee has been placed on leave.” This move underscores the college’s commitment to addressing the incident with the seriousness it deserves.
The CUNY school previously said it was “reviewing” Friedman’s conduct after the tenured professor’s comments quickly circulated online and sparked widespread fury.
“They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school,” Friedman was heard saying while her mic was unknowingly unmuted, according to a recording of the meeting posted online, which she had attended as a parent of a public school student.
“If you train a black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back,” she said. “You don’t have to tell them anymore.”
She seemed to be referring to a comment made by Reginald Higgins, the school district’s interim acting superintendent, who spoke about scholar Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history, earlier in the meeting.
“If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told,” Woodson wrote in his 1933 book “The Mis-Education of the Negro.”
Two other adults in the virtual meeting quickly called out the professor, while others sat shocked with their hands over their mouths.
The entire meeting went dead silent for about 10 seconds before the moderators apologized to the student and urged her to continue.
Friedman later excused her language by stating she was explaining systematic racism to her own child, “by referencing an example of an obviously racist trope,” adding her full remarks weren’t completely audible due to a microphone mistake.
“My complete comments make clear these abhorrent views are not my own, nor were they directed at any student or group,” Friedman told the New York Times.
Public officials quickly slammed the professor’s conduct and urged Hunter College to take immediate action.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman Sigal called the comments “outrageous.”
“It is particularly despicable that these vile words were uttered while children were giving testimony at the meeting, exposing them to this hatred,” he said.
“She still isn’t fired???” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. also wrote on X.
“She shouldn’t be near any child at all. Her words are abhorrent and racist. I feel awful for all those children who witnessed this. Hunter shouldn’t allow her to continue in her role until a full investigation is complete,” United Jewish Teachers president Moshe Spern wrote.
Cantor added in the statement announcing the decision to place Friedman on leave that counseling services and an employee assistance program were available for members of the school community who feel they need support.
“This painful incident unfolded at a meeting where Black History Month was being celebrated, and the pernicious and enduring effects of anti-Black systemic racism were being discussed, especially with regard to the role of educational institutions in addressing them,” Cantor wrote.
“Hunter has long embraced such a role, which requires constant vigilance to remain attentive and responsive to the ways in which we continually draw and redraw discriminatory social lines.”